Benefits and Leave Specialist

Benefits and Leave Specialist

Full-Time 42000 - 55000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
P

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Manage employee benefits and leave processes while supporting wellbeing initiatives.
  • Company: Join the iconic Pokémon Company, a leader in children's entertainment.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 100% employer-paid healthcare, and generous family leave.
  • Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for professional growth and development.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on employee experience in a fun, dynamic environment.
  • Qualifications: 3-5 years in benefits administration and a passion for helping others.

The predicted salary is between 42000 - 55000 £ per year.

Get to know The Pokémon Company International

The Pokémon Company International manages the Pokémon property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing and marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website.

Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world.

Learn more online at corporate. pokemon. com and pokemon. com.

  • Get to know the role
  • Job Title: Benefits and Leave Specialist
  • Job

Summary: We are looking for a Benefits and Leave Specialist to join our Global Benefits team, based in our London office and partnering closely with the wider EMEA People Team.

This role supports, implements and manages defined programmes, supporting the administration and delivery of employee benefits, leave, and wellbeing across our London and Dublin offices.

You will serve as a key, reliable point of contact for employees, ensuring programmes are delivered in line with local legislation and company policy.

The role will support employees, delivering consistent, compliant, and employee-focused outputs that enable team outcomes and employee experience standards.

You will collaborate closely with the People Team, Payroll, Legal, Tax, and external vendors to ensure policies and processes are applied accurately, empathetically and timely.

  • People Manager: No
  • What you’ll do

Benefits & Employee Support

  • Act as the primary point of contact for all benefits-related queries for employees in the London and Dublin, including independently managing the benefit inbox EMEA inquiries.
  • Manage day-to-day benefits operations, including processing employee benefit changes and owning tasks through completion to ensure accurate records and a high standard of service.
  • Maintain eligibility tracking for full-time, part-time, and variable-hours employees, in a high energy and face paced work environment, ensuring consistent plan application and data accuracy.
  • Support the annual benefits renewal process and other benefit related projects, delivering assigned workstreams reliably on schedule.
  • Assist with benefits and policy communications to ensure employees understand and engage with their benefits offering.
  • Leave of Absence
  • Manage all leave of absence processes including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental leave, sickness absence and other statutory or company leave programs.
  • Ensure timely compliance with UK and Irish legislation, and coordinating closely with Payroll to ensure accurate pay and benefit outcomes.
  • Act as a trusted point of contact for employees during periods of leave, handling cases with consistency, empathy and discretion.
  • Reasonable Adjustments
  • Administer the reasonable adjustments process, managing assigned cases independently within established guidelines and processes for employees.
  • Manage assessments, coordinate agreed adjustments and ensure appropriate documentation is in place.
  • Provide clear guidance and support to employees and managers, ensuring outcomes are recorded accurately and confidentially.
  • Workplace Flexibility & Mobility
  • Own and administer the flexible working process, guiding employees and managers through requests and outcomes.
  • Ensure all decisions and documentation are handled fairly, consistently and in line with legislation, raising questions or risks to benefits team leadership where input is required.
  • Manage work from abroad applications end-to-end, including eligibility checks, approvals, documentation and coordination with Legal and Tax teams.
  • Ensure policies are applied consistently and in line with compliance requirements, flagging exceptions or constraints proactively.
  • Compliance, Data & Process Improvement
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of UK and Irish employment legislation relating to benefits, leave, wellbeing and flexible working.
  • Maintain accurate employee data in HR systems, ensuring confidentiality and data protection standards are met.
  • Track, analyse, and report on data relating to reasonable adjustments, flexible working, and leave of absence (LOA), producing regular insights to support decision-making, compliance monitoring, and continuous improvement.
  • Identify opportunities to improve processes, employee experience, and operational efficiency within role scope, proposing practical improvements.
  • Support wider People Team initiatives and projects as required, collaborating with peers across teams to support coordination.
  • What you’ll bring
  • Three (3) to five (5)+ years’ experience in benefits administration or benefits-focused HR role supporting UK and Irish employees.
  • Bachelor's degree in a related field or a demonstrated equivalent level of applicable experience.
  • Experience working in a high volume workforce environment.
  • Good understanding of UK and Irish employment legislation relating to leave, flexible working, and reasonable adjustments.
  • Experience supporting employees and managers with people-related queries in a professional, empathetic, and solutions-focused way.
  • Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail, and the ability to manage work through to completion.
  • Confident communicator with an employee-focused approach and the ability to manage sensitive matters with discretion.
  • Comfortable working with HR systems and employee data; experience with Workday is desirable.
  • Proactive and solutions-focused, with a continuous improvement mindset and willingness to take ownership within defined scope of work.
  • Base
  • Salary

Range: For this role, new hires generally start between £42,000.00 - £55,000.00 per year.

The full range is£42,000.00 - £73,400.00 per year.

This range is applicable for the labor market where the role is intended to be hired.

The final base salary is directly related to the candidate’s qualifications and professional experience uniquely.

  • How you’ll be successful
  • Passion for Pokémon: Develops an understanding of the Pokémon brand, the impact it has on our people, culture, business, fans, and communities, and applying that knowledge and passion to everything you do.
  • Challenging the

Expected: Approaches challenges with curiosity and creativity, embracing the possibility of failure as an opportunity to learn something new, develop innovative ideas, solve complex problems and identify unique opportunities.

  • Integrity and

Respect: Demonstrates integrity and respect by leading with empathy, listening to others, seeking out different perspectives, and taking personal responsibility for decisions, actions, and results.

  • Dedicated to

Quality: Takes ownership to maintain and promote high standards, looks for new ways to learn and improve, and embraces a growth mindset to seek and apply feedback from others in an effort to continuously improve.

  • Building Relationships: Develops and strengthens relationships, adopting a "team first" mentality and working collaboratively to solve problems and meet shared goals.
  • Delighting

Customers: Listens and understands the interests and needs of our customers and stakeholders, making them feel heard and important, and embracing these learnings to continue delivering a unique Pokémon experience.

  • What to expect
  • An innovative culture driven by impact, delivering meaningful outcomes.
  • Company events that celebrate the spirit of Pokémon.
  • Competitive cash-based compensation programs.
  • 100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for you.
  • Generous paid family leave.
  • Employer-paid life insurance.
  • Employer-paid long and short-term income protection insurance.
  • US Employees: 401k Employer Matching.
  • UK/IRE/MX Employees: Pension Employer Contributions.
  • Fitness reimbursement.
  • Commuter benefit.
  • Linked In learning.
  • Comprehensive relocation package for certain roles.
  • Hybrid work environment.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this role.

They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

Employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

For roles in the United Kingdom, candidates will need the right to work.

In some cases, and for some roles, the Company may be able to arrange a visa.

For roles in Ireland, this role requires candidates to have the right to live and work in the Republic of Ireland.

However, we welcome applications from all nationalities and may consider supporting an employment permit application, in appropriate and suitable cases.

The Pokémon Company International is committed to the inclusion of all qualified applicants for consideration in our job application process.

If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, or a job interview, or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at accommodationrequest_ta@pokemon. com.

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Benefits and Leave Specialist employer: Pokemoncareers

The Pokémon Company International is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. With opportunities for professional growth and a commitment to employee well-being through hybrid working arrangements and competitive compensation, this role as an Experiential Creative Project Manager in the UK promises a rewarding experience in a globally recognised brand.

P

Contact Details:

Pokemoncareers Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Benefits and Leave Specialist

Join HR Networks

Get involved in HR-specific communities, like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and local HR meetups. This is a fantastic way to connect with industry professionals and learn about job openings before they even hit job boards!

Make Your Presence Known

Attend HR conferences and workshops in your area to network with potential employers. Don't be shy—introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and let them know you're keen on a full-time role in HR. Who knows, you might just land a friendly face at Pokemoncareers!

Leverage Your University Connections

If you’re a recent grad or still in uni, tap into your career services and alumni network. Many universities have connections with companies looking for HR talent, so get those leads and apply through our website for a smoother application process.

Showcase Your HR Passion

Create content around HR topics you’re passionate about, like employee engagement or diversity initiatives. Share articles or insights on LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and get noticed by recruiters. It’s a subtle yet effective way to show you’re the right fit for a full-time role at Pokemoncareers.

We think you need these skills to ace Benefits and Leave Specialist

Benefits Administration
Leave of Absence Management
Knowledge of UK and Irish Employment Legislation
Employee Support
Organisational Skills
Attention to Detail
Communication Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at Pokemoncareers. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.

Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to Pokemoncareers and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.

Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at Pokemoncareers. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.

Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to Pokemoncareers's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.

How to prepare for a job interview at Pokemoncareers

Brush Up on HR Best Practices

As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with Pokemoncareers.

Know Your Recruitment Tools

Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!

Highlight Your People Skills

A full-time HR role at Pokemoncareers will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.

Stay Current with HR Trends

Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact Pokemoncareers and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.